Sheriff Uses Inmate Food Funds to Buy Beach House

posted by Kat -
Mar 16, 2018

A Sheriff in Alabama has used the inmate food fund to help him purchase a lavish new beach home… and it was totally legal. Sheriff Todd Entrekin says he was just following a law that predates World War II. It states that sheriffs are allowed to keep excess inmate-feeding funds for themselves. This means the extra funds were up for Todd’s taking.

He normally only rakes in $93,000 annually, but with the help of the food funds, he and his wife were able to snag a four bedroom home with an in-ground pool on a canal for $740,000. He’s reportedly received more than $750,000 in additional compensation form the food fund over the last three years.

As for the inmates, don’t worry they’re still fed well. “We utilize a registered dietitian to ensure adequate meals are provided daily," Entrekin explains. Though his move does raise some ethical concerns in the state. Police Chief Jonathan Horton is currently running opposite Entrekin in the election for sheriff. He argues that the sheriff shouldn’t get to keep any inmate feeding funds. "I believe the funds belong to the taxpayers and any excess funds should go toward things that benefit the taxpayer," says Horton. "There's been a tremendous amount of money left over that shouldn't be used as a bonus check."